Injury updates on Nene, Chris Paul and Trevor Ariza

Currently, Trevor Ariza, Nene and Chris Paul make up the Rockets’ injury report. Ariza is confirmed to miss this entire three-game road trip which is back in action tonight in Charlotte and tomorrow in Memphis with a sprained foot. Nene is suffering from a sore achilles and Paul is still dealing with the knee injury that forced him out of the season opener against Golden State.

Nene’s injury causes concern simply because of the word achilles. A scary injury for sure, Nene is still a game-time decision for Saturday’s bout with Marc Gasol. Clint Capela has more than held his own this season shining against some of the best bigs in the league and Tarik Black made a large impact giving useful minutes against Joel Embiid and the Sixers but Nene is definitely missed.

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That being said, a player with Nene’s injury risks and age should be handled conservatively this season as he’s going to be needed later in the season more than now.

For Paul, the timetable is still a bit murky – he doesn’t even really know when he’ll be back. While the team does need him back somewhat soon, they know that he’s more valuable in the second half of the season than the first. An initial injury report from around 10 days ago said anywhere from two weeks to a month, until then, Paul is just focused on being the best teammate and remaining a vocal leader of the team even from off-the-court.

“Always a benefit being around,” Paul said. “I’m a firm believer in ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ Some injuries you can’t travel, you can’t be with the team. When you can, it’s nice to be there. I just try to be there to be a voice.”

Ariza should be a go as the Rockets come back home as he’s “improving quickly” and has even already began shooting again. The Rockets’ defense looked good in the second half against the 76ers but, anytime you lose one of your top perimeter defenders, you’re in a worse place without him than with him. The Rockets would love to get their three-headed monster in Ariza, Luc Mbah a Moute and P.J. Tucker back. For tonight and tomorrow’s games, pencil in Mbah a Moute for the starting lineup again.

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